A special film full of colorful characters that spring to life thanks to an amazing ensemble cast
The Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005)
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Reviews Counted:107
Fresh:49
Rotten:58
Average Rating:5.6/10
Consensus: Heavy on the symbolism and overly contrived.
Rated: R [See Full Rating] for language, sexual content and some drug material
Runtime: 1 hr 52 mins
Genre: Dramas
Theatrical Release:Mar 25, 2005 Limited
Box Office: $578,570
Synopsis: Writer-director Rebecca Miller's third film (following ANGELA and PERSONAL VELOCITY) is a powerful, poignant drama about a father and daughter living on their own on the outskirts of nowhere, just... Writer-director Rebecca Miller's third film (following ANGELA and PERSONAL VELOCITY) is a powerful, poignant drama about a father and daughter living on their own on the outskirts of nowhere, just as developers are starting to move in. Daniel Day-Lewis (Miller's husband) stars as Jack Slavin, a 1960s holdover who is a man of the earth, working the land and defending his territory while eschewing such modernities as television. Jack is devoted to his daughter, Rose (Camilla Belle), a 16-year-old girl who is equally as devoted to him. But Jack is sick, so he asks his girlfriend, Kathleen (Catherine Keener), along with her two sons, Rodney (Ryan McDonald) and Thaddius (Paul Dano), to come from the mainland and move in with them, thinking they can be Rose's family once he dies. But Rose begins to act out in dangerous ways, threatening to severely damage the already fragile relationships that are developing. Day-Lewis gives a shattering, emotional performance as Jack, and he is matched well with Belle, who seems wise beyond her years. Filmed on location on Prince Edward Island, THE BALLAD OF JACK AND ROSE is a harrowing, intimate film set in a beautiful, lush land. This film screened at the 2005 SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas. [More]
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Camilla Belle, Catherine Keener, Paul Dano
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Camilla Belle, Catherine Keener, Paul Dano, Jena Malone, Beau Bridges, Jason Lee, Susanna Thompson, Ryan McDonald
Director: Rebecca Miller
Director: Rebecca Miller
Screenwriter: Rebecca Miller
Producer: Lemore Syvan, Jonathan Sehring, Caroline Kaplan
Composer: Michael Rohatyn
Studio: IFC Films
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Reviews for The Ballad of Jack and Rose
Combining an actor you can't take your eyes off with unapologetically emotional material makes The Ballad of Jack & Rose a model of artistic, provocative American filmmaking.
The plot of The Ballad of Jack and Rose relies overmuch on contrivances, but the viewer ends up liking the characters enough that it's hard not to forgive such narrative hiccups.
Rebecca Miller's attempt to elevate a small Oedipal story about two damaged souls into a grandiloquent epic misses by a significantly wide mark.
The whole story feels like an exercise in manufactured emotion, tortured contrivance, narrative shortcutting and easy morality.
As an investigation of disturbing behavior, the film is near perfect. As a dramatic creation, Miller’s inventive filmmaking skills have failed her.
A bold and compelling film that explores the passionate connection between a fiery idealist and his sixteen-year old daughter.
An art house pretender, it's nothing more than another film on the level of a TV disease movie of the week.
Miller's theme is innocence, the loss of it, and the reclamation of equanimity in the face of that loss, and the music she makes is haunting.
[Lewis'] turn as lifestyle extremist Jack carries an authentic scent of tobacco and peat while much of the movie smells of the lamp.
Ballad of Jack and Rose is a decidedly mixed bag. Well-intentioned and superbly-acted, the film grows increasingly sentimental, rambling, and diffuse as it progresses.
Faint clues and indirections fly all over the film and, although perhaps unintentional, cry for clarification which never comes.
It's hard to feel any sense of tragedy, much less sympathy, for a parent whose idea of child rearing borders on abuse.
Latest News for The Ballad of Jack and Rose
February 07, 2008:
The Private Lives of Pippa Lee Adds Four Famous Faces
Rebecca Miller's follow-up to The Ballad of Jack and Rose is rapidly becoming something of an all-star production. More...
December 13, 2005:
Awards Season Gets Rolling with Crix Picks
If you're a fan of the late-year awards season, be sure to add Movie City News to your hit list, because they deliver some consistently excellent coverage. Mid-December is when... More...
June 03, 2005:
Camilla Belle Signs Up for "Stranger" Duty
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